Patent · US Active

Purging of porogen from UV cure chamber

US8282768B1 · kind B1 · utility

22Cited by
142References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 2009
Grant dateOct 9, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 13, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67207
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for purging a space in a processing chamber comprises a source of a purge gas; an inlet portion of a purge ring; an inlet baffle located in the inlet portion and fluidically connected to the source of purge gas; and an exhaust portion of the purge ring. The inlet portion and the exhaust portion define a ring hole space having a 360° periphery. The inlet baffle preferably surrounds not less than 180° of said periphery. The inlet baffle is operable to convey purge gas into the ring hole space. The exhaust portion is operable to convey purge gas and other matter out of the ring hole space. Cleaning of the purge ring and other structures in a processing chamber is conducted by flowing a cleaning gas through the inlet baffle. Methods and systems using a purge ring are particularly useful for purging and cleaning porogens from a UV curing chamber. Some embodiments include a gas inlet plenum and an exhaust channel but not a purge ring.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.